Break-away ladder.



nu. 664,414. Patented nec. 25, |900.

F. M. z. KNIGHT.

BBEAKAWAY LADDER.

` (Appliwion med Apr. 1o, 1899.) (No Model.)

UNITED ,i STATES PATENT OFFICE..

FRANK M. ZOLA KNIGHT, OF NEW HAVEN, CGNNECTICUT.

BREAK-AWAY LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,414, dated December 25, 1900.

Application and April 10, 1899. serial no. 712,457. (No maar? To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that LFRANK M. ZOLA KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a certain new and useful Break-AwayLadder,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of a ladder for use in aerial gymnastic performances in a circus or theater, the object being to provide a novel device of this class by means of which startling and sensational feats may be performed.

With this object in View my invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically pointed out in the claims. i

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionmost nearly apperl Ytains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its' construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus complete with the hinged sections extended and locked in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, the apparatus being unlocked or broken on its i pivotal connection, the curved guard-plate Abeing shown in dotted lines, said plate being omitted in the other lign res.

Fig. 3 is aview in side elevation of one of the sections detached, the outer end being broken away to shorten the figure. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the locking apparatus detached. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the means whereby the ladders are unlocked and the pistol simultaneously fired.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the various iigures of the drawings. l

Referring to the drawings by letters, A and B indicate two ladder-sections, each provided at the inner end of each pole of the ladders with a Adownwardly-projecting arm, as at C C' and D D', having a hole or boltsocket E at its lower end, all of said sockets being adaptedto register in line with each other when the sections are extended in a Fig. l.

straight line withA each other, as-shown in `project upward, inclining away from the ladder-section'pivot-rod in the plane of the side frame to which they are attached and overhanging the other section. These arms are protected on their inner sides by guard-plates `.I J' and are rovided with a series of o enings K. Spiral springs L L' connect the arms H H and I I' with eyes M M', secured on the side poles of the ladders, the springs connecting the arms of one section with the eyes of the other, and the strength of the springs being regulated by varying the `places of vatless distant from the pivotal center. The pivot rod or bolt G is extended laterally and is pivotally mounted in the lower ends of suspension-rods N, placed far enough apart to permit the whole device to swing 'entirely around between them. s

Inl Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown in detail the locking mechanism by means of which the sections are maintained in position when extended in line with each other, as in Fig. l. This locking mechanism consists ofa barrel O, secured between arms C of section A, having two longitudinal slots P P' and two bolts Q Q', mounted slidably in and projecting from the ends of the barrel, two handle-pins R R', projecting through slotsP P' into bolts Q Q', and spiral spring S in the barrel, bearing outward against the inner ends of each bolt, the normal tendency being to force the ends to their outer positions, as in Figs. 4 and 5. When the sections are forcibly brought to their extended positions inline with each other, as shown in Fig; l, the locking mechanism is betweenthe lower ends of arms C C' D D', with the bolts drawn inward, and the bolts then allowed to assume their normal outer positions in the registering bolt-sockets V The arms C C' and D D' form each `one side of a triangular side frame, aisecond 'tachment in the series of openingsmore or IOS E in said arms, looking them in that position untii the; boite arew'ithdrawn by means oit the handle-pins R R'.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated means whereby the looking-bolts may be withdrawn by the performer and a pistol disohargedat the same time. connected to the handle-pins R R', passed around pulleys T' T', journaled in brackets secured to any suitable part of the structure, in this instance to the barrel O. `These cords join, forming asingle egrdU, extending ont.- ward to within reach of a performer, preferably at the outer end of' t'he ladder at any convenient point.

laddenso that 'when the @ord is pulled the belts Q n Q. are' drawn, breaking the iai-(iden and the pistol fired at the same time., l When; the ladder-sections are time broken away, they willi swing on their pivotal` rod G, the' weight et the 'sections :me performers being netiois, inelnding' the whirling ofi the whole devicearonnd. continuously on the piyoiai rod G. *When broken apart,- asin Fig-2,111@- seetionsaresti-il. pivotaliy connected or swingy on rodi G', and each seetion is yieid'inglysept ported from the other by' mean stof the springs;

Surprising' and sensational aerial gymnasitie performances are possible upon my breakaway ladder, and the invention ahor'd's an attraction nniquastertling, and profitable to themanager' ot the circus or theater..

While I have thus ill net-rated and'deseribed the beetv means: now known. to me for earn-ying' 'ont my invention, I do not wish to be nnder-- stood as restricting myself to the exact terms and eonstmotions shown, as many slight In this meehanisni, T` T indicate cordsY A branch oord V extends" to' the trigger' of a pistol W, secured on the' changes or variations therefrom might be metio without departing from the Spirit and scope of my invention. Y

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the `United States, is- Y I'. The combination of1 two5 ladder-sections pivotallyjointed at their inner ends, spring connections between the sections, extending from some intermediate point of each laddersection to an arm projecting from the other i ladder-section to a point above the pivot, and

means for looking the sections in extended position inliiielw'it-h eaeh other, substantially asdeseribed. 1

2. The eombinatien of two ladderseetion-s vothenspringas connecting eehsection ,withy the arms of the other. at* a' point above the pivot, amd locking' mechanism to seem-e the `sections in extended position, substantially i as deiner'rbed` .3. The combination of. two ladder-sections, piro/cally eomieet'ed upon. asnepended. bar,

of. npfwardlyJprojeeting arms extending from the inner en'd of eaelt section.; ai spring, eenv,neoted to each arm and the other ladder-eeetion and llook-ing mechanism for inleiding' the sevetionsr inl ahorizontal position, Substantially as'deseribed.

4, The combination of two ladder-sections eaoh having triangular braced side frames with bolt-sockets, uipwardlyprojectiirg arms one section to ani intermediate peint on the other section,` a double-ended spring -bolt mechanism to be placed between the triangular frames and engage in the registering bolt-eeekets,v and a eurvedA guard. to prevent the bolts striking the ladders when disen- 

